Tripping Jupiter has today released the new song and short film titled ‘Lipstick of the Brave’. Just as epic as it is subtly cinematic, ‘Lipstick of the Brave’ emulates the spirit of the music of Bowie and more from that magical time when androgyny was an artform and the lines of sexuality were blurred into the music. Anthemic and powerful while remaining soft spoken is what true art is. It neither over powers you or goes over your head. It simply welcomes you in like an old friend and becomes a part of your soul.
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The single is accompanied by a short film with hand-drawn animation directed by illustrator, animator and two-time Academy Award Nominee Bill Plympton that brings the story and message of “Lipstick of the Brave” to life in gorgeous living color. The short film / music video has already been named as an official selection at the OUTShine LGBTQ+ Film Festival, LGBTQ+ Los Angeles Film Festival, Big Apple FIlm Festival, Cherry Grove Archives Collection Film Festival, and the Montreal Independent Film Festival.
Describing the process behind writing “Lipstick of The Brave”, the key creative force behind Tripping Jupiter, Madstone Rowan, says that the song came out of a regular meeting with their producer and mentor Barb Morrison (Debbie Harry, LP), who discouraged them from covering the song “Science Fiction Double Feature” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show and challenged them instead to write their own “Science Fiction Double Feature”.
After initially being taken aback by the challenge, Madstone reflected on what the original “Science Fiction Double Feature” was about and realized that much in the same way composer Richard O’Brien wrote the song about the B-movie horror and sci-fi films from their youth that inspired them, “Lipstick of the Brave” should pay tribute to the early queer icons from their youth like Tim Curry and David Bowie who made Madstone realize for the first time that the possibilities of their own gender expression were much more open than they ever realized.
As Madstone describes it, “I immediately thought of Rocky Horror and when I first saw Tim Curry when he made his first appearance in the film, how that sent electricity through my body. Then I thought about David Bowie, and how he pushed the limits of gender throughout his career. The words just started coming out, as they often do. I was writing, not thinking. Then I remembered how I felt when I first saw Hedwig and the Angry Inch… and I thought about how I felt when I saw Lady Gaga when she first burst onto the scene, all androgynous and amazing – and that went in the song too. Images of me as a teen, alone in my room, playing with makeup, putting on lipstick and dancing around my room to my favorite music – all of this just shot into my brain.” When Madstone sent the finished track back to Barb, their only response was “Motherfucker, you made me cry”.
The face of Tripping Jupiter is that of Madstone Rowan (they/them, he/them), a vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter based in New York City who is seamlessly two parts groove, one part empowerment, plus just a spritz of glitter.
Madstone embraces the identity and expression behind the look, the sound and the social voice of the band – a transcendent view of art and of music created and presented without societal restrictions or self-imposed limits. The result is barrier-free freedom presented within the sonics and visuals of modern rock and retro-pop sensibilities. Rowan, who describes personal identity as “beyond the binary,” explains: “for us, music and life should have no limits.”
To live that truth, Tripping Jupiter demonstrates bravery to empower others by example, shining a spotlight on their own personal vulnerability:
“So shake your head and take your bets cuz this ain’t over yet. I don’t care if I burn in my desire. It’s only fire.”
The release of “Lipstick of the Brave” follows two previous singles “The Rhythm Falls” and “Time Doesn’t Stop”, both of which were also produced by Barb Morrison and show off the more streamlined and energetic side to Tripping Jupiter’s retro-yet-modern pop sound. These songs are the first taste of more new music to come in 2022 from Tripping Jupiter, with additional videos and singles slated for the next few months in leadup to the debut Tripping Jupiter LP in the fall.
All of this and more coming soon to a galaxy near you.
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